Kanawha Republicans pick Fouty replacement on ballot

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- John Jarman, who was on the Kanawha County primary ballot as a candidate for assessor, will be on November's general ballot as a candidate for magistrate.Members of the Kanawha County Republican Executive Committee met Saturday morning and picked Jarman as a replacement for former magistrate Carol Fouty on the November ballot. Fouty resigned as part of a settlement with the state Judicial Investigation Commission.In April, the commission accused Fouty of violating five counts of the state Judicial Code of Conduct. She was accused of having defendants trade work for her in exchange for leniency in her courtroom.Tim Morris, chairman of the Kanawha County Republican committee, also filed a request to have her name removed from the ballot and only received final clarification on that matter last week. Both the state Election Commission and the Secretary of State's office agreed to remove Fouty's name.Morris said Saturday that Jarman is well qualified to serve.Kanawha County voters may recognize Jarman's name from his run for assessor in May, when he lost the Republican primary to Forest Carper. Jarman also owns Town and Country Publications in Clendenin.Although born in Maryland, Jarman said he enjoyed camping with his family in Greenbrier County when he was a boy. "I thought West Virginia was the coolest place on the planet," he said.

In the 1970s, his career path started in Washington, D.C. with his work in circulation at The Washington Star newspaper. When the paper closed, he started a second career in law enforcement."I have been pulled in both arenas (newspapers and law enforcement)" throughout his career," he said. He also worked in circulation for Charleston Newspapers.In 2001, he married a West Virginia woman, and said he he was glad to move to West Virginia after retiring from law enforcement in Florida. His wife, Sherry, is in charge of graphics and design at Town & Country Publications.With so little time before November's election, Jarman, 51, said he will try to get his campaign going as quickly as possible.He is one of four Republicans on the ballot for the 10 Kanawha County magistrate positions. Ten Democrats, including nine incumbents, are also on the ballot.Reach Susan Williams at susanwilliams@wvgazette.com or 304-348-5112.